Each game costs 1 shard. Those standing on the winning circle receive a Wintersday Gift and a number of shards and lucky points depending on the circle: three for the center circle, four if on the edge circles, and five for the corners. Those standing on a circle adjacent to the winning one receive two shards and two lucky points. Those not standing on the winning circle or a circle adjacent to the winning one receive one unlucky point.

At the end of the finale, approximately a dozen Wintersday Gifts will be added to your inventory one at a time, taking roughly 15 minutes; be sure to stay until the winning deity says farewell and leaves. You do not need to play to receive gifts during the post-game phase; it is sufficient just to be in the district. One random Wintergreen weapon (not dependent on the primary nor current secondary profession of your character, nor weapons that are equipped) will also be added to everyone's inventory when Dwayna or Grenth is announced as the winner in the dialogue at the end of the first finale attended by each account. After Grenth wins, Grentchesspawn; they will kill characters they "touch" (characters will automatically be resurrected after a few seconds) and drop Presents (picking up a Present results in instant death); in which case, supporting Dwayna (on the blue/green rings) might be the better option, since the deaths caused by Grentches can impede your character from going around town (e.g. accessing the Xunlai Chest or talking to traders) and rearranging items, transferring items between or using items in your inventory and vault box while waiting for the Wintersday Gifts to be added to the inventory.

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Welcome all to the end of another glorious Wintersday season! That special time of year when you all have a very important choice to make..."

The Avatar of Grenth:"A choice? There is no choice! They will all choose to embrace the dark majesty of Grenth! Grenth conquers all, in the end!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Your harsh words fall on deaf ears. Good people if you would have this winter end and warmth return to these lands, join me as the wise goddess Melandru has!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"You are not the only one with new allies! If you would ignore the vapid frivolity of Dwayna and embrace the cold justice that is Grenth, join forces with me and the mighty God of War, Balthazar!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Citizens! Prepare to cast your support for lowly Grenth or glorious Dwayna by partaking in a game of choice. Gather before the deity you wish to support, and keep your candy cane shards handy."

The Avatar of Grenth:"Make sure you have some candy cane shards in your Inventory so you can show support for mighty Grenth and laugh at the pathetic sniveling followers of Dwayna!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Step into one of the rings before the deity you wish to support! A game of chance will determine if Grenth or Dwayna will be victorious this year."

The Avatar of Grenth:"The side that has the most people betting candy cane shards will have a greater chance of of victory, so make sure to stand in one of Grenth's rings!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"During each round of betting, you will bet one candy cane shard toward the deity you have chosen to support, the deity whose ring you are standing on."

The Avatar of Grenth:"One ring will be chosen as the winner. Those standing in the winning ring and in the rings adjacent to it will raise the score of their deity by the number of candy cane shards they have won."

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Those standing in the other rings will lose the candy cane shard they bet and will not raise the score of the deity they are supporting."

The Avatar of Grenth:"After a number of rounds have completed, the deity with the higher score will be declared the winner. This means, of course, that we will be celebrating Grenth's victory."

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Very well, then...let us begin! Gather on the side of the deity you wish to support and stand inside a ring!"

The Avatar of Dwayna round countdown:

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"3"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"2"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"1"

The Avatar of Grenth round countdown:

The Avatar of Grenth:"Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"3"

The Avatar of Grenth:"2"

The Avatar of Grenth:"1"

(The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

The Avatar of Grenth:"So many cold hearts gathered in one place! Ah, I can feel icicles growing betwixt my toes! My master is pleased. Oh yes, he is pleased!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"This isn't over. I shall gather more followers this time. In Dwayna's name, the next round is about to commence. I have foreseen it!"

(The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

After round 10

The Avatar of Grenth:"Grenth be praised! Winter shall never end!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Nature shall weep and spirits shall be crushed without your help! How can you raise your young in a land of ice and death? There is still time. Join me and together we shall turn the tide of this challenge!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"Join me, and together we will prolong winter forever!"

(The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

After round 15

The Avatar of Grenth:"Grenth wins! The land shall remain in his icy embrace forever...or at least until the sun thaws out the land. But that's not the point! At the moment, Grenth wins! Let us begin the REAL festivities now, with a bone-chilling thank you from the Grentches...."

The Avatar of Dwayna:"You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You have given Grenth a victory, for now... but there's always next year!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"For this glorious victory, the Grentches wish to thank you in person. Grentches...go spread some Wintersday cheer!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"You diabolical fiend... This aggression will not stand! Fear not, Tyrians! Dwayna shall resurrect the fallen!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"Farewell, mortals! Have a merry and very chilly Wintersday!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Welcome all to the end of another glorious Wintersday season! That special time of year when you all have a very important choice to make..."

The Avatar of Grenth:"A choice? There is no choice! They will all choose to embrace the dark majesty of Grenth! Grenth conquers all, in the end!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Your harsh words fall on deaf ears. Good people if you would have this winter end and warmth return to these lands, join me!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"Nonsense! If you would ignore the vapid frivolity of Dwayna and embrace the cold justice that is Grenth, join me!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Citizens! Prepare to cast your support for lowly Grenth or glorious Dwayna by partaking in a game of choice. Gather before the deity you wish to support, and keep your candy cane shards handy."

The Avatar of Grenth:"Make sure you have some candy cane shards in your Inventory so you can show support for mighty Grenth and laugh at the pathetic sniveling followers of Dwayna!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Step into one of the rings before the deity you wish to support! A game of chance will determine if Grenth or Dwayna will be victorious this year."

The Avatar of Grenth:"The side that has the most people betting candy cane shards will have a greater chance of of victory, so make sure to stand in one of Grenth's rings!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"During each round of betting, you will bet one candy cane shard toward the deity you have chosen to support, the deity whose ring you are standing on."

The Avatar of Grenth:"One ring will be chosen as the winner. Those standing in the winning ring and in the rings adjacent to it will raise the score of their deity by the number of candy cane shards they have won."

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Those standing in the other rings will lose the candy cane shard they bet and will not raise the score of the deity they are supporting."

The Avatar of Grenth:"After a number of rounds have completed, the deity with the higher score will be declared the winner. This means, of course, that we will be celebrating Grenth's victory."

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Very well, then...let us begin! Gather on the side of the deity you wish to support and stand inside a ring!"

The Avatar of Dwayna round countdown:

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"3"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"2"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"1"

The Avatar of Grenth round countdown:

The Avatar of Grenth:"Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"3"

The Avatar of Grenth:"2"

The Avatar of Grenth:"1"

(The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

The Avatar of Grenth:"So many cold hearts gathered in one place! Ah, I can feel icicles growing betwixt my toes! My master is pleased. Oh yes, he is pleased!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"This isn't over. I shall gather more followers this time. In Dwayna's name, the next round is about to commence. I have foreseen it!"

(The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

After round 10

The Avatar of Grenth:"Grenth be praised! Winter shall never end!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"Don't be so certain. Dwayna has one final chance to vanquish Grenth and set things right!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"Join me, and together we will prolong winter forever!"

(The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

After round 15

The Avatar of Grenth:"Grenth wins! The land shall remain in his icy embrace forever...or at least until the sun thaws out the land. But that's not the point! At the moment, Grenth wins! Let us begin the REAL festivities now, with a bone-chilling thank you from the Grentches...."

The Avatar of Dwayna:"You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You have given Grenth a victory, for now... but there's always next year!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"For this glorious victory, the Grentches wish to thank you in person. Grentches...go spread some Wintersday cheer!"

The Avatar of Dwayna:"You diabolical fiend... This aggression will not stand! Fear not, Tyrians! Dwayna shall resurrect the fallen!"

The Avatar of Grenth:"Farewell, mortals! Have a merry and very chilly Wintersday!"

Statistically, the center circle offers the best chance of winning shards and luck points (an average of 11 each per 9 rounds versus 9-10 standing on the other circles).

This version of Nine Rings offers a very limited opportunity to advance the lucky title track: on average, participants will earn 165 lucky points per 30-minute finale. By comparison, you earn 250 points for retaining a single Lockpick or over 1,700 lucky points in 30 minutes of Nine Rings played at the Shing Jea Boardwalk.

Prior to Wintersday 2012, Dwayna (blue/green rings) was supported in even numbered districts and Grenth (red rings) in odd ones — abiding by this convention helped players to acquire the hat of their choosing.